Kunle Adelabu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has charged aspirants vying for any positions to mobilise and participate in the party’s primary elections without fear that some aspirants will be favoured.
The former Governor of Lagos State who himself is campaigning all over the country to secure his party’s nomination as the Presidential flag bearer of the APC, added that no aspirant will be asked to step down for anyone and that whoevers wins will be recognized as such.
Tinubu made the declaration at the party’s stakeholders’ meeting held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa on Friday, May 6, 2022, stating that Lagos would not prevent any aspirant vying for any position from testing their strength at the primaries, noting that all candidates that would be fielded by the party across elective positions must go through a delegate electoral system.
“Aspirants who are showing interest in positions from House of Assembly to governorship, go and get your forms; you are going to contest primaries. There will not be any favouritism in the primaries.
“We want you to contest and test your popularity. Nobody will ask to step down for another aspirant. Let all aspirants mobilise their supporters; if you win, you win. If you lose, there will not be a refund for the nomination form.”
Tinubu charged all leaders holding the party structure at the local government level to rise above their challenges and work with the community leaders in their respective councils to mobilise for the APC victory at the general elections.
He also issued directive for the resolution of all grievances and disagreements causing disaffection among party members ahead of the primaries, stressing that division would not bring any good to party’s candidates standing for elections.
At the meeting were Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Chieftains of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), State executives of the APC, Senators, party leaders, Council Chairmen, aspirants and others.
Unfortunately, Asiwaju Tinubu, at the same meeting, openly endorsed Gov. Sanwo – Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, to return for second term.
This made some of the aspirants and party chieftains that attended the meeting to described Tinubu’s statement as a political statement.
“It was a frank discussion and our leader made it clear that we are all free to aspire and that there will not be any imposition or change of name”, one of the aspirants said after the meeting.
“It was also an avenue to also stopped rumours going round that the governor will only serve a term and not be allowed to be re – elected. Our leader also openly endorsed both at the meeting which.
“His statement will definitely curtailed the overbearing nature of the so – called leaders and others causing unnecessary rumors against the governor’s re – election and also trying to impose aspirants in their local governments”, he added.
Another stakeholder who attended the meeting said:
“Our National Leader has spoken and that changes everything. He made GAC and apex leaders to know that there will not be any imposition of any aspirant.
“Unfortunately, he openly imposed the governor and his deputy which was his own way of stating that he is in support of their re – election. It was a good meeting and reassuring for aspirants. It was also political.
